(EFE) ST. PETERSBURG, Russia – Costa Rican goalkeeper Keylor Navas, who plays for Real Madrid, is a fan favorite at the World Cup, drawing hundreds of people to his team’s first practice on Wednesday at the Olimpiyets, a small soccer complex in the town of Pavlovsk, located south of St. Petersburg.

A fan of Costa Rican national team goalkeeper Keylor Navas waves a sign and jersey during the team’s practice session on June 13, 2018, for the FIFA World Cup in St. Petersburg, Russia. EPA-EFE/Juan Herrero

Fans applauded when the 31-year-old Navas and his teammates took the field for warm-ups, calmed down and then got excited again when their soccer hero went into action, making some impressive stops.

“He’s my favorite player, I also want to be a goalkeeper,” a 9-year-old boy who stood out in his fervor for Navas told EFE.

Costa Rican national team goalkeeper Keylor Navas signs autographs for fans during the team’s practice session on June 13, 2018, for the FIFA World Cup in St. Petersburg, Russia. EPA-EFE/Juan Herrero

Fans chanted the Real Madrid and Costa Rican national team star’s name and waved homemade signs in Spanish that said “¡Bienvenido a Rusia!” (Welcome to Russia!) and ¡Querido Keylor Navas! ¡Por favor dame un autógrafo!” (We Love You Keylor Navas. Please give me an autograph!).

Navas signed autographs for his and one fan got the jersey the Real Madrid goalkeeper used in practice.